Phonics and the Alphabet

Phonics Instruction and Alphabetic Understanding

The We All Can Read Program systematically introduces the phonetic foundation of English; students learn that words are made up of letters that represent sounds. Section One of our core book teaches the sounds of the individual consonants and the short sounds of the five vowel letters. In addition consonant blends and the major consonant digraphs or consonant teams such as ch and sh are presented. Section Two introduces the most common vowel teams and the six major syllable patterns that indicate what sounds vowels will represent. Section Three explains syllable division, introduces the remaining vowel and consonant teams, and teaches students how to read and spell multiple syllable words. Section Four provides a succinct review of the sounds of the English language and the letters and letter teams that represent those sounds. Section Five contains a comprehensive spelling program that lists 2,400 of the most commonly-used words in the English language. These words are used to review and consolidate the principles covered in the first four sections of the program and to teach spelling skills.

Special Features of the We All Can Read Program

• Nonsense words are used throughout the first two sections of the book to teach phonics. A nonsense word as its name implies is a made-up word that has no meaning. Nonsense words are vital when working with students in third grade and beyond because many of these students have memorized hundreds or even thousands of words and yet have little or no knowledge of phonics. No purpose is served by having students call out or spell words they have long ago memorized. Since many older students and adults have already developed a sight reading vocabulary, the best way and in many instances the only way to teach them phonics is by presenting them with words they have never seen before. As an example many students will recognize the word chimp but will not be able to pronounce or spell the nonsense word chilst unless they have learned the sounds represented by the individual letters and letter teams contained in that nonsense word. The We All Can Read Program contains thousands of nonsense words in nonsense word lists,nonsense sentences, and nonsense short stories. (PDF files)

• The introduction of words is carefully sequenced. Words are used in lessons only after the phonetic principles governing their pronunciation have been introduced. View the Table of Contents from our core book. (PDF file)

• Constant review is built into the course. Once a principle is initially taught, it is systematically reinforced with review lessons that are strategically spaced throughout the remaining exercises. In addition twenty-one Mastery Check Word Lists are published in the book to insure that the student has mastered each level prior to proceeding to subsequent and more challenging levels. View Mastery Check Number One. (PDF file)

• Each of the twenty-seven units in our program contains on average hundreds of words that illustrate and reinforce the concept that is being presented in that unit. Because phonics involves mastering a sequential set of skills, students often require a great deal of repetition before they are able to master each skill. All units in the program contain thousands of words to insure that all students are presented with enough material to apply and master the instructional principle introduced in that unit.